Insights Chapter 8: Sea of Blood and Mountains of Corpses

Chapter 8: Sea of Blood and Mountains of Corpses

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

Four years ago, in Country R, the wind howled incessantly, freezing the freshly fallen snow. Even with anti-slip shoes, one could still easily slide on the icy ground. Two figures traversed the icy plain. After walking for a few hundred meters, they reached some peculiar structures surrounded by fences and cameras, indicating restricted access.

“We’re here.” The man leading the way was European, with a prominent nose. He wore a thick coat with a furry collar. Taking a few quick steps, he turned to the young man dragging a suitcase behind him. “Hurry up. If you’re too slow, your toes might freeze, and they’ll start falling off one by one.”

Following closely was a young man in his twenties, looking delicate and slender, with a youthful innocence in his appearance. He seemed uncomfortable with the low temperature, occasionally clutching his chest and coughing softly.

“Catching a cold?” the man in the fur collar asked in somewhat broken Chinese.

“It’s a heart rate issue.” The high altitude exacerbated his irregular heart rhythm, causing occasional coughing fits.

“Are you okay? The hospital is far from here, not convenient for medical care.”

The young man stubbornly shook his head, pale-faced. “I’m fine. I brought medication.”

“Call me Lee. What’s your name…? Sorry, although my Chinese is decent, it’s just one of the six languages I’m fluent in. I must admit, your name is a bit hard to remember.”

“Shen Junci.” The young man repeated his name, then after a moment of silence, suggested, “Or you can call me Lin, a simpler name.”

Approaching the entrance, Lee pointed to the large gate. “Welcome to the world’s largest human farm.” Introducing it, Lee boasted, his tone carrying a hint of pride. “Really, after visiting here, you’ll find that those farms in countries M, E, and C are just child’s play. In terms of quantity and variety, this place is the best in the world!”

Shen Junci had read about the first human farms established at the University of Tennessee in 1971. ¹ While that farm was well-known, the one before him had never been reported in the news, yet its scale exceeded all other human farms combined. There were thousands of various corpses here. ²

Shen Junci inquired, “How are the bodies transported here?”

“In the summer, vehicles can come directly. Only during the winter do they have to take this route. If bodies arrive during that time, people use body bags and push them in with small carts.”

Entering the facility, Shen Junci observed the peculiar buildings around. Despite the icy surroundings, many structures had been erected, including a massive factory-like building. It contained numerous rooms, each simulating different environments with varying temperatures and humidity—mimicking deserts, rainforests, swamps, fields, and forests. There was even a huge garbage dump outside, with a display of various bodies. Working staff inside meticulously recorded and managed the bodies. Each person appeared focused and busy.

“How many people are here now?” Shen Junci asked.

“Are you asking about the living or the dead?”

“Both.”

“There are over 6,900 bodies, and the number is continually increasing. As for the living, there are over a hundred people, half of whom maintain the various facilities. Every now and then, medical examiner students come here to learn or help. the number of permanent scholars from various countries stationed here does not exceed fifty. Many medical examiners aspire to come here, but those who stay for long are few.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s too harsh. Every day, they’re surrounded by countless corpses. Over time, many people’s mental states deteriorate. For many, seeing this scene for the first time induces fear and nausea.”

“I think I can handle it.” Shen Junci’s voice remained calm. “I grew up in a medical examiner room. The first time I went there was around seven years old. My father left me to do my homework in the medical examiner building, and a decomposed body was delivered…”

That was his first encounter with death, and he quickly overcame the fear.

“Have you performed dissections?” Lee asked.

He remembered being alone, facing the body, identifying organs, and making incisions… Just recalling that scene made his back damp with sweat, uncomfortable in the chilly wind. Shen Junci’s face turned slightly pale. “Once.”

“Don’t think too highly of it. This place is entirely different from a medical examiner room. Even seasoned medical examiners rarely get a chance to deal with so many bodies. Do you know what people call this place? Translated into Chinese, it’s ‘Truth Hell.’ If you want to uncover the truth, you need to experience hell.” Lee continued, “If you’re outside, you can have a different life. You can play with your phone, watch TV, use the computer, have a girlfriend. You can gather for meals, eat delicious food. But here, the phone signal is weak. If you want to connect to the internet, you have to go to a special room. The food is canned and simple. At night, the sound of flies buzzing through the ventilation can be heard. In the summer, mosquitoes swarm around you. Here, there are only medical books, these bodies, and bugs.”

Shen Junci listened quietly.

“Since many bodies are in glass compartments, even with ventilation fans, the smell can’t be completely removed. During meals or sleep, the lingering stench of corpses remains. Constantly surrounded by thoughts of death. One scholar stayed here for six months and eventually committed suicide. Luckily, before he died, he signed a donation form. He became body number 3145 here. In the end, you’ll feel like you’re just another dead person.”

“What you said, I can handle it.” Shen Junci lowered his head, his lips curved slightly. “I feel like I’m no different from these dead people.”

Setting aside the distinction between life and death, everyone was human. After a hundred years, all were corpses. They were all part of the same kind. Looking at the horrifying corpses in front of him, Shen Junci was not afraid. In fact, he was a bit excited and eager to start learning and working as soon as possible.

“You’re just like me,” Lee smiled, finding a resonance in their conversation. “This place is a normal person’s nightmare but a madman’s paradise. I suggest you find something to cling to. Always thinking about death can make a person abnormal. So, you need something, someone or something, like a connection between you and normal people.” Lee paused, hesitating about the choice of words. Eventually, he remembered and said, “An umbilical cord. Without it, nutrients won’t be delivered, and a person will die.”

With that, he took out a small photo for Shen Junci to see. The photo featured an adorable little girl. “Although I divorced my ex-wife, she gave birth to my daughter. Occasionally, I go to the bars in the town and make video calls to her. Lin, you should also look forward to being alive.”

Shen Junci nodded, “She’s cute.”

Satisfied, Lee put the photo back into his pocket, his praise for his daughter bringing more joy than any compliment to himself.

They walked through several laboratories, and the smell of decayed bodies hit them. The odor was a mixture of freshly deceased bodies and old corpses, blending together.

Shen Junci’s gaze wandered, observing the various bodies inside. There was a pool at the entrance simulating an underwater environment. Upon closer inspection, multiple bodies were submerged, some tied to stones at the bottom, others floating on the surface. The water was frequently changed for a clear view. Through the transparent water surface, it resembled a tranquil ukiyo-e painting.

Further inside, some bodies were sliced into pieces, some had faces that seemed melted, and others were covered in insects. One body had its skin peeled off and underwent processing, standing in a transparent glass coffin in a pose resembling David. In a corner, there was a massive skeleton, approximately 2.5 meters tall, resembling the remains of a giant from legends. In a glass display case, there was a set of blood vessels for the heart and lungs, a specimen made using special means. The blood was a vibrant red, like an upside-down growing tree with abundant branches and leaves.

This place was truly a treasure trove, revealing a side completely different from the outside world. Shen Junci thought that perhaps this was the true face of humanity.

They crossed the hall, finally feeling warmer. Lee led Shen Junci into one of the rooms, where temperate plants grew on the floor. A brown, mummified corpse lay on the ground, its skin wrinkled, and teeth protruding due to dehydration.

“Most of these bodies are donated, and many are unidentified. Some have names, like this one, called Jae. Here, you can see bodies of various races and ages,” Lee said proudly. He went to a nearby table, grabbed a bottle of vodka, took a few gulps, and then handed it to Shen Junci. “I like this lab because the temperature here is the most comfortable.”

Shen Junci didn’t mind and took a sip. He coughed violently, his pale face turning red.

Lee continued, “Sometimes, the local police also bring in bodies for us to dissect. So, you’ll never run out of bodies to study here. Here’s a challenge for you.” Lee pointed to the mummified corpse and asked, “Guess how many years this one has been dead?”

Examining it carefully, Shen Junci deduced, “Five years?”

Lee laughed heartily, like a mischievous child who succeeded in a prank. “Twenty-five years. You were off by twenty years. Looks like you still have a lot to learn.”

Shen Junci fell silent, biting his lip. This corpse was older than him.

“No one is an absolute genius when it comes to death because everyone lacks experience. This place helps us compensate for that. When you can cherish every bone and decomposed organ here, you can leave. The quickest person before you took two years.”

“I hope I can do it within a year,” Shen Junci said. He didn’t have much time left. To fully become Shen Junci, he didn’t have the time to slowly study domestic disciplines. This was the fastest place he could acquire medical examiner knowledge, like a potent medicine and a risky move. Perhaps he could walk out of here, or perhaps he would become one of the corpses here.

“You can try. I hope this time, your time estimate is not wrong,” Lee said.

Soon, Shen Junci was assigned to a room. The room was small, centrally heated but not very warm. It was just a place to survive, not a place to live well. Shen Junci placed his luggage, took off his coat, and pulled out his phone. As expected, the signal was very poor, as the man had mentioned. He had to flip through the photos one by one. There were landscapes, selfies, and he saw a photo of his father, lingering for a long time.

In the end, his fingers stopped on a photo. It was a young and handsome man. The photo was taken sneakily, downloaded from the cloud before. The man glanced back hurriedly, completely unaware of the observer in the crowd.

Shen Junci set this photo as his phone’s lock screen. 

This was his obsession; his umbilical cord.

From being an amateur to becoming an outstanding medical examiner, it took him a total of eight months to climb out of that hell.